Basket structure



p 7, 1965 R. c. SANDKUHLE 3,204,803

BASKET STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 10, 1963 INVENTOR. ,c- 5 A AY/140M) C. SAMOA (MAE 60: Arrow/5V5.

United States Patent 3,204,803 BASKET STRUCTURE Raymond C. Sandkuhle, 1221 Glenwood Ave, San Jose, Calif. Filed Get. '10, 1963, Ser. No. 315,263 4 Claims. (Cl. 217-12) This invention relates to basket structure and more particularly to a knock-down type of basket.

The present invention resides in the provision of a simple construction involving slat side members interlockingly connectable to end walls to form a receptacle in the nature of a planter basket.

It is an object of this invention to provide key-slot connection of a plurality of side wall slats with end walls and means for locking such slats in assembled condition with the end walls.

It is another object to provide a receptacle in which slat sides mounted in key slots in the end walls have offset edges adapted to overlap adjacent slats and bear against the same. In this connection it is :a further object to provide interfitting slats supported for turning in key slots on the end walls and tending toward overlapping relation by the load carried by the receptacle in which position the slats are misaligned relative to their admittance into the key slots.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planter basket embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the basket structure of FIG. 1 and .at slightly larger scale with respect thereto.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interlocking feature of the present invention at larger scale than in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3 with parts thereof assembled.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 4 showing the base or bottom slat of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 a receptacle is shown as having end walls 11 and 12 joined by a plurality of slats 13 to provide side and bottom walls for the receptacle.

In accordance with the present invention the side walls of the receptacle curve inwardly .so that that the slats 13 overlap one another and rest upon penultimate slats. 1415 which overlap a common base or bottom slat 16.

More specifically, the end walls 11 and 12 are identical in that each is a disc of wood having an arcuate edge 17 struck radially from a center C and having a straight upper edge 18 chordally of the circular disc and above the center C. I

Each end wall 11 and 12 has an odd number of key slots 20 formed therein adjacent its arcuate edge 17. In the present discolsure, eleven such key slots are shown, one, 21, of which is disposed .at the bottom of the receptacle 1t), i.e., on a line Z perpendicular to the chordal edge 18 and bisecting the remainder of the disc-shaped end walls. This leaves an equal number of key slots 20 on each side of the vertical center of the end walls defined by the line Z aforementioned.

Each key slot 20 and 21 is identical in that each is bored preferably on a center equidistant from that of the others, slightly less than the width of the widest of said slats and radially from disc center C, to provide an enlarged round zone R. Each key slot further has a narrow slot 22 extending substantially radially of the end wall and opening the Zone R onto the periphery (arcuate edge 17) of the end wall of which it is a part. These slots 22 are of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the slats 13, 14, 15 and 16 all of which are of uniform thickness.

3,204,803 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 The slats 13, 14, 15 and 16 are also identical in length; slats 13, 14 and 15 being identical in width; and base slat 16 being of a narrower width than the'others for reasons later to become apparent. i i

Each slat 13, 14 and 15 has an end portion 25 of reduced width, a Width comparable to that of slat 16. 'The reduced end 25 of each slat 13, 14 and 15 and the end of sl-at 16 has recesses 26-26 formed in each its edges 27-27 to leave a neck portion 28 of slightly lesser width than the diameter of the zone R of any one of the bores'2tl and 21. This leaves a head end 29 on the extreme end as of each slat 13, 14, 1s and 16, which" head end 29' is of greater width than the diameter of the bores 20 and 21.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the neck portion 28 of each slat 13, 14, 15 and 16 is shown to have a longitudinal axis line atherein which matches'the axis of a bore 20' and/or 21 when disposed within the bore after being inserted into the same via the slot 22. Each slat is adapted to turn about this :axis awith respect to the' bores in the end walls 11 and 12.

The head end 29 of the base slat 16 is the same width as the entire slat 16. On slats 13, 14 and 15 the edge 27 of each is a continuation of the edge of the medial portion of each of these slats. The opposite edge 31 of each of these slats 13, 14 and 15 is offset latenally from the neck portion 28 of these slats and will therefore have a greater swing than the edge 27 when the slat is turned about axis -a.

In knocked-down condition the receptacle 10 comes with all of its slats 13, 14, 15 and 16 in a flat package With the end Walls 11 and 12 lying over them with the chordal edges 18 of the two ends in abutting relation. This makes a neat, compact package for shipping and/ or storage in warehouses and stores.

In assembling the receptacle 10 the base slat 16 is first to have its neck portions 28 inserted into the centermost bore 21 of each end wall 11 and 12. The slat 16 is then turned about its axis ato misalign its width with respect to the slots 22 and to position the slat 16, widthwise, parallel to the chordal edge 18 end wall 11 and 12, i.e., perpendicular to the vertical center line Z thereof (FIG. 2

Next either one or both of the penultimate slats 14 and 15 may be inserted via the slots 22 of the bores 20 adjacent the centermost bore 21. These slats 14 and 15 are preferably inserted with their offset edges 31 innermost so that when these slats are turned about their axes a'- their edges 31 overlap and come to rest upon the base slat 16. Each of the remaining slats 13 have their neck portions 28 inserted in like manner in aligned bores 20 in the end walls 11 and 12 so that each successive slat has its offset edge 31 overlapping and resting against the previously mounted slat.

From the foregoing it will be noted that each slat 13, 14 and 15 has its oifset edge disposed to gravitate toward a previously mounted slat. Moreover, the internal pressure of anything such as planting soil in the receptacle will bear against each slat to maintain its ofiset edge 31 in overlapping relation to a preceding slat. In this position all of the slats 13, 14, 15 and 16 are misaligned widthwise relative to the slots 22 via which they gained admission into the respective bores 20 and 21. Thus it will be appreciated that all slats are maintained and supported with their neck portions 28 confined within their respective key slots and against removal therefrom other than intentionally by man should occasion require.

While I have described my slat type basket structure in specific detail it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same may be susceptible to variations, alterations and/ or modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention therein. 1, therefore, desire to avail myself of all variations, alterations and/r modifications which may fairly come Within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A planter basket comprising side wall slats and end walls having matching bores spaced from each other in radial array a distance comparable to the width of such slats each bore having an admittance slot opening onto the perimeter of such end walls, said slats each having an end portion of slightly greater width than any one of said bores and recessed inwardly of their extreme ends to provide a neck portion of a width such as to fit diametrically of and to turn within any one of said bores about an axis extending between the neck portions of a slat, said slats being of a thickness facilitating admittance of each of said neck portions through theadmittance slot of any one of said bores, one of said slats consisting of a base slat having its neck portions supported in a pair of said bores intermediate of the other slats with said neck portions misaligned with respect to the admittance slots of such bores, each of said other slats having their neck portions disposed in a respective setof bores in misalignment with the admittance slots thereof, and an olfset edge on each of said other slats disposed a distance from the axis of the neck portions of such slats so as to overlap the opposite edge of an adjacent, previously installed slat for limiting turning of the neck portions of said slats within the respective bores and for holding the contents of said planter basket within the latter.

2. A planter basket comprising end walls each having equally spaced matching bores in radial ar-r-ay adjacent their perimeters and each having a substantially radially disposed admittance slot opening said bores onto the perimeter of such end walls, side wall slats for said basket comparable in number to the sets of bores in said end walls .and of a width comparable to the spacing of said bores relative to each other, said slats each having an end portion of slightly greater width than any one of said bores and recessed inwardly of their extreme ends to provide a neck portion at each end of said slats of a width such as to turn within any one of said bores about an axis longitudinally of said neck portions, said slats being of a thickness less than the width of said admittance slots whereby the neck portion of a slat may be inserted into any one of said bores, one of said slats consisting of a base slat having its neck portions supported in a pair of said bores intermediate of the other sets of bores in said end walls, the remaining slats each having its neck portions supported in aligned bores of opposite end walls, and an offset edge on each of said remaining slats disposed a distance from the turning axis of the neck por tions thereof in their respective sets of bores whereby the offset edge of each such remaining slat overlies and is supported on the opposite edge of an adjacent, previously installed slat for maintaining the neck portions of each of said slats in misalignment with the admittance slot of 4 the bores supporting the same whereby said slats provide side walls for said planter basket.

3. A planter basket comprising end walls having a peripheral edge with adjacent matching bores in radial array and each having an admittance slot extending outwardly therefrom and opening said bores onto the periphery of such end walls, a plurality of slats of slightly greater width than any one of said bores and recessed inwardly of their extreme ends to provide a neck portion at each end of each of said slats of a width less than the diameter of any one of said bores so as to turn within any one of said bores about an axis extending between the neck portions of a slat, said bores being spaced from each other a distance substantially comparable to the width of said slats, said slats each being of a thickness less than the Width of an admittance slot to receive said neck portions for admittance into any one of said bores, one of said slats having its neck portions supported in a pair of said bores intermediate of the other sets of bores in said end walls, the remainder of said slats each having their neck portions supported in opposite aligned pairs of said bores and having an edge disposed a greater distance from the axis of such slats than the opposite edge thereof whereby to overlap the opposite edge of an adjacent, previously installed slat and thereby limit turning of the slats beyond said adjacent slats and to maintain the neck portions of said slats in misaligned relation with respect to the admittance slot opening of the bores in which such slats are supported.

4. In a planter basket having a pair of end walls and a plurality of slats forming a base and end walls therefor; means for locking said slats in assembled condition with said end walls comprising a plurality of matching round bores formed in each of said end walls in radial array and equally spaced relation adjacent the perimeter of said end walls a distance comparable to the Width of said slats, an admittance slot formed in said end wall between each said bore and the perimeter of said end wall for admitting a slat into a bore, each said slat having an end portion of a reduced width within the diameter of any one of said bores, and each of the slats forming the side walls of said basket having an edge offset a greater distance from said reduced end portion within a bore than the opposite edge of such sl-at for overlying the opposite edge of an adjacent previously installed slat and for supporting the neck portion of each slat in misalignment with respect to the admittance slot of the bore in which it is disposed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,561 12/89 Hyatt 21744 485,466 11/92 Jeanes 217-49 1,498,377 6/24 Honigbaum 217-43 2,104,742 1/38 Fleischer 46-16 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PLANTER BASKET COMPRISING SIDE WALL SLATS AND END WALLS HAVING MATCING BORES SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN RADIAL ARRAY A DISTANCE COMPARABLE TO THE WIDTH OF SUCH SLATS EACH BORE HAVING AN ADMITTANCE SLOT OPENING ONTO THE PERIMETER OF SUCH END WALLS, SAID SLATS EACH HAVING AN END PORTION OF SLIGHTLY GREATER WIDTH THAN ANY ONE OF SAID BORES AND RECESSED INWARDLY OF THEIR EXTREME ENDS TO PROVIDE A NECK PORTION OF A WIDTH SUCH AS TO FIT DIAMETRICALLY OF AND TO TURN WITHIN ANY ONE OF SAID BORES ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE NECK PORTIONS OF A SLAT, SAID SLATS BEING OF A THICKNESS FACILITATING ADMITTANCE OF EACH OF SAID NECK PORTIONSTHROUGH THE ADMITTANCE SLOT OF ANY ONE OF SAID BORES, ONE OF SAID SLATS CONSISTING OF A BASE SLAT HAVING ITS NECK PORTIONS SUPPORTED IN A PAIR OF SAID BORES INTERMEDIATE OF THE OTHER SLATS WITH SAID NECK PORTIONS MISALIGNED WITH RESPECT TO THE ADMITTANCE SLOTS OF SUCH BORES, EACH OF SAID OTHER SLATS HAVING THEIR NECK PORTIONS DISPOSED IN A RESPECTIVE SET OF BORES IN MISALIGNMENT WITH THE ADMITTANCE SLOTS THEREOF, AND AN OFFSET EDGE ON EACH OF SAID OTHER SLATS DISPOSED A DISTANCE FROM THE AXIS OF THE NECK PORTIONS OF SUCH SLATS SO AS TO OVERLAP THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF AN ADJACENT, PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED SLAT FOR LIMITING TURNING OF THE NECK PORTIONS OF SAID SLATS WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE BORES AND FOR HOLDING THE CONTENTS OF SAID PLANTER BASKET WITHIN THE LATTER. 